Sleeping balcony



July 26, 1932. M. R. JAY

SLEEPING BALCONY Filed Jan. 6, 1950 %NIVENTOR// BY 49%;)! f [pATTORNEY Patented July 26, 1932 UNITED STATES MARY RUTHERFURD JAY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

SLEEPING BALCONY Application filed January 6, 1830. Serial No. 418,729.

My invention relates to a balcony which may be placed on the side of a house or other building outside of a window or door.

One of the objects of my invention is to provide such a balcony at a low cost and one which may be used for sleeping purposes or an outdoor living room.

Another object is the provision of a mattress in connection with a balcony which is so mounted that it may be pivoted from a horizontal position to a vertical position and when in the latter position is completely inclosed within a waterproof compartment. Hence, it is not necessary to remove the mattress from the balcony when the former is not in use.

Further objects and advantages inherent to my invention will appear from the following description considered in connection with the accompanying drawing which forms a part of this specification and on which:

Fig. 1 is a front elevational view of a balcony constructed in accordance with my invention;

Fig. 2 is a top view of the balcony shown in Fig. 1; and

Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Referring to the drawing, reference character 10 designates the floor of the balcony which is supported in a horizontal position 0n the outside of a building 11 bysuitable brackets 12 attached to the building. Floor 10 is preferably made of sheet metal and is 5 provided with a plurality of holes 13 for drainage purposes. 7 V

Secured to either end of floor 10- in an upright position are end members 14 likewise made of sheet metal. Secured to the front of floor 10 is an upright member 15 which does not extend entirely to either end of the floor. Member 15 is also made of sheet metal and preferably carries moldings 32 for the sake of improved appearances. Similar moldings may be also applied to the end members 14.

Secured to the ends of member 15 are vertical pieces 16, the lower ends of which are also secured to floor 10. Vertical members 17 are secured to end members 14 and pieces 16. Brackets 18 may be suitably fastened to pieces 16 for the purpose of retaining flower pots 19 at the corners of the balcony.

Pivoted to the floor of the balcony at 20 is a tray shaped member 2]., all the edges of which are upturned as at 22. Member 21 serves to support and retain the mattress 23 which may be of any desired type but I prefer to employ one in which are placed a series of springs 24 as this obviates the use of separate springs. Pivoted to the upper part of member 15, as at 25, is a lid member 26 which e1;- tends the entire length of member 15. The inneredge of lid'26 is turned down in the form of a lip 27. Similar lips are likewise formed at either end of lid 26, small notches being cut in the upper edge of vertical pieces 17 to accommodate these latter lips.

When tray 21 with mattress 23 is not to be used the tray is pivoted to the vertical position shown in full lines in Fig. 3. Lid 26 is pivoted from a position outside the balcony to the position shown in Fig. 3 and lip 27 holds tray 21 in a vertical position. The lips on lid 26 also prevent the ingress of rain or snow into the compartment in which the mattress is contained in its vertical position. When the mattress is desired to be used lid 26 is pivoted to a position outside of member 15 and member 21 and the mattress may be pivoted to the horizontal position on floor 10, as shown by thedotted lines in Fig. 3. As lid 26 is outside the balcony when the mattress is in use, the space occupied by mattress when in a vertical position is available and provides more room within the balcony.

Corner poles 28 may be provided which carry curtain rods 29 therebetween and between each pole and the wall of the building. Curtains 30 are attached to rings carried by rods 29 and are provided with eyelets along their bottom edges which are adapted to be fastened on hooks 31 along the upper edges of end members 14, and lid 26.

Instead of having tray 21 hinged to the floor it may be hinged to the sides of the balcony at a pointsome distance above the floor. In this event short legs preferably hinged to the tray, should be provided for supporting the other side thereof, or angle brackets may be secured to the building for this purpose.

My improved balcony may be placed on the side of a building already constructed, in which case it will be preferable to place it outside and at the level of a window already in the Wall which may conveniently be reached by a window box forming a step. If desired, French windows may be substituted for the ordinary sash. Thus it is not necessary to alter the building, which results in a material .saving of cost. This balcony has a particular advantage when used in connection with a window in that it is not necessary to carry the mattress in and out through the opening afforded by a French window, as it permanently remains in the balcony.

While I have described a preferred embodiment of my invention it is to be understood that many modifications thereof fall within its scope which is to be limited only by the appended claim viewed in the light of prior art. i

What I claim is:

A combined porch and sleeping balcony adapted to be supported adjacent a window or the like comprising a substantially horizontal floor, vertical end members, a vertical outside imperforate member, means providing a pivot, a tray adapted to be supported on the floor and pivoted on said pivot a given distance from said outside member, said tray having an imperforate bottom and side members, a mattress in said tray, said tray being movable about said pivot so that the tray bottom is vertical and parallel to said outside member and provides a wall for the balcony when the latter is serving as a porch, and a lid adapted to hook over said tray when in vertical position, said outside member, end members, tray bottom and lid form- 1H0 a water tight enclosure for the mattress.

in testimony whereof I hereunto aiiix my signature.

MARY RUTHERFURD JAY. 

